Safety warning system for firearms

ABSTRACT

A warning system for firearms employing a linearly movable push button safety switch of the type adapted to interfere with the full rearward motion of the trigger to prohibit actuation of the firing mechanism when the switch is in a safety ON position, and an L-shaped control element connected to the switch and pivotally movable relative to the firearm in response to the linear movement of the switch, for energizing an electrical warning circuit housed in the firearm when the switch is placed in a safety OFF position in which the firearm is in an operative and potentially dangerous condition.

United States Patent Dixon SAFETY WARNING SYSTEM FOR FIREARMS [76] Inventor: William G, Dixon, 409 Atkinson St.,

Henderson, Ky. 42420 [22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1973 [2]] Appl No.: 385,416

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Scr. No. 273,850. July 2i,

I972, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 42/1 A [51] Int. Cl. F4lc 27/00 [58] Field of Search 42/l A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 666.405 l/l9()l Baggett a. 42 1 A 3,134,406 l()/l)3X Jacobs 42/1 A 3,044,204 7/l962 Zimmerman 42/I A Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Maurice L. Miller, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A warning system for firearms employing a linearly movable push button safety switch of the type adapted to interfere with the full rearward motion of the trigger to prohibit actuation of the firing mechanism when the switch is in a safety ON position, and an L-shaped control element connected to the switch and pivotally movable relative to the firearm in response to the linear movement of the switch, for energizing an electrical warning circuit housed in the firearm when the switch is placed in a safety OFF position in which the firearm is in an operative and potentially dangerous condition.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SAFETY WARNING SYSTEM FOR FIREARMS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my previously filed co-pending application entitled Shotgun Attachment, Ser. No. 273,850, filed July 21, 1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to warning systems or firearms such as shotguns, rifles, handguns, and the like.

Several such devices are known to the prior art such as, for example, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 666,405 issued to W. T. Baggett; U.S. Pat. No. 2,134,406 issued to C. E. Jacobs; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,044,204 issued to C. R. Zimmerman.

The patent to Baggett discloses a firearm of the type employing a sliding plate safety mounted in the top of the stock and adapted to lock and release the trigger by the linear or sliding movement thereof. Upon the sliding plate safety is mounted an arm, having an electrical contact on the end thereof, which cooperates with a stationary contact to complete an audible buzzer circuit when the plate is disposed in a safety OFF position.

The patent to Jacobs discloses a slidable safety bolt which, when released from interfering relation with the rearward movement of the trigger, thereby lowers a plunger containing a transversely projecting switch contact into engagement with a pair of contact plates to close a lamp warning circuit. The movement ofthe switch contact is of course linear and at a right angle to the linear movement of the safety bolt.

The patent to Zimmerman discloses a safety switch pivotally mounted in' interfering relation behind the trigger of a firearm. When the safety is in the on position, the rearward movement of the trigger is restrained so that the firing mechanism cannot be actuated. However, when the safety arm is pivoted to the off position, thus allowing for full rearward movement of the trigger to fire the rifle, the safety itself engages an electrical terminal to complete an electrical flasher circuit. In this example of the prior art, the pivotal safety performs both the function of a safety switch and an electrical warning circuit contact means.

In the foregoing examples of the prior art only the patent to Jacobs is adaptable to use with the popular push-button type cylindrical safety switchesused in connection with modern firearms. However, the plunger system linked therewith is a complex mechanical linkage involving a relatively large amount of hardware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the instant invention to provide a safety warning system for firearms which substantially overcomes the aforementioned difficulties.

Briefly, in accordance with the instant invention a safety warning system for a firearm is provided having a safety switch on the firearm which is linearly movable between a first safety ON position and a second safety OFF position. An electrical warning circuit is also provided. A control element is connected to the safety switch and is pivotally movable relative to the firearm in response to the linear movement of the safety switch for energizing the warning circuit when the switch is in the second position.

These and other objects of the instant invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and attached drawings upon which, by way of example, only the preferred embodiments of the instant invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an elevation view of a portion of a shotgun illustrating one embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section view of the firing mechanism of the shotgun of FIG. 1 as seen along lines 2-2 thereof.

FIG. 3 shows a rear elevation view of the firing mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows an elevation view of the shotgun of FIG. 1 emphasizing the electrical warning circuit and another preferred embodiment of the instant invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the figures there is shown a portion of a conventional shotgun 10 as generally defined by a stock 12, a shell chamber and firing mechanism housing 14, and a barrel assembly 16. A firing mechanism 18, partially disposed within the underside of the housing 14, includes a trigger 20, a trigger guard 22 and a safety switch 24.

The safety switch 24 is of the conventional cylindrical or button type, linearly movable along its longitudinal axis from a safety OFF position to a safety ON position, the latter position being characterized .by dashed lines 24 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Typically, the switch 24 has two relatively large diameter cylindrically shaped push buttons 26 and 28 connected together by a relatively small diameter shaft 30. The shaft 30 contains a raised ring 32 disposed upon and around the midportion thereof. The button 28, substantially thicker than the button 26 as measured along the longitudinal axes thereof, may typically contain a red safety OFF position warning band 33 on the extended portion thereof which is exposed to view beyond the outside surface of the trigger mechanism 18 when the shotgun 10 is in an operative condition ready for firing.

It will be observed that when the safety switch 24 is in the safety OFF position as shown by solid lines in the drawings, the relatively small diameter shaft 30 and ring 32 thereon are in registry behind the trigger 20 thus allowing for the full rearward movement of the trigger 20 thereagainst sufficient to actuate the firing mechanism 18. On the otherhand, when the switch 24 is displaced to the safety ON position 24, as with the thumb or finger, the relatively large diameter button 28 moves into registry behind the trigger 20 so as to interfere with and prohibit the trigger 20 from being movable to is full rearward position, by reason of which the firing mechanism 18 cannot be actuated.

In accordance with my invention, a safety warning system, adapted for operation in association with the switch 24, is shown-having an L-shaped control element 34, the end portion of one leg thereof being curved to conform to the shaft 30 against which it is seated between the button 28 and the raised ring 32. The element 34 is pivotally attached to the rear portion of the trigger guard 22 by means of pin 36 and extends upward from the switch 24 to the top rear portion of the trigger mechanism 18 by way of a channel 35 communicating therebetween. The generally horizontal leg of the element 34 extends outwardly along a groove or channel in the top rear portion of the mechanism 18 to engage a microswitch or electrical terminal 38 of any suitable type when the switch 24 is in the safety OFF position. The electrical terminal 38, is disposed adjacent the free end of the horizontal leg of the element 34 in a slot 39 in the stock 12 as shown most clearly in FIG. 3.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 4, the electrical portion of the warning system of the instant invention is shown, including the terminal 38 connected by a suit able lead wire preferably insulated, to one side of a warning device 40 which may be either a lamp, vibrator or buzzer of any suitable type. The other side of the device 40 is connected to one terminal of a power source, such as a dry cell 42, the other terminal of which is connected to frame ground, represented generally by the schematic ground symbol 44.

Referring again to all of the figures, the operation of the warning system of the present example is therefore as follows. With the safety switch 24 disposed in the safety OFF position, whereby the shotgun is in a readiness condition for firing as previously explained, the element 34 engages the terminal 38 thus connecting the frame of the shotgun 10, including the switch 24, the housing 14 and other metal components thereof, to frame ground 44. The terminal 38, thus operating as an energizing means, places the device 40 across the source 42 thereby energizing the same so as to warn the operator that the shotgun 10 is in a potentially dangerous operative condition.

When the switch 24 is placed in the safety ON position 24, the element 34 pivots counterclockwise about the pin 36 thus lifting the horizontal leg thereof upward and away from engagement with the terminal 38 as illustrated by dashed lines 34 in the figures. Accordingly, the shotgun 10 is inoperative in the safety ON position of switch 24, as at 24, in a safe condition such that the terminal 38 disconnects the device 40 from frame ground 44 and from across the source 42 thereby deenergizing the electrical circuit thus described including the device 40.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the warning system of this invention is also applicable to use with safety switches of the type described herein which may be employed on rifles, handguns and the like as well as upon shotguns such as illustrated in the instant example. The source 42 and device 40 are shown near the end of the stock 12 in the present example primarily because of the ease of access thereto through the free end of the stock 12. However, the same can be located elsewhere within the stock 12 or shotgun 10 wherever space permits.

As previously mentioned, the terminal 38 may be a microswitch of any suitable, well-known type which when pressure operated by the element 34, closes to connect the ground side of the electrical circuit to frame ground 44. In such an arrangement the element 34 need not be constructed of electrically conductive material, whereas if the terminal 38 is a simple passive type of contact, the ground for said circuit is provided directly through the element 34 which, in this case, must be constructed of suitable metal or other electrically conductive material.

Although the instant invention has been described with respect to specific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is not intended that such details limit the scope of the instant invention except insofar as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A safety warning system for a firearm comprising a safety switch on said firearm linearly movable between a first safety ON position and a second safety OFF position,

an electrical warning circuit, and

a control element separate and distinct from and connected to said switch and pivotally movable relative to said firearm in response to the linear movement of said switch, for energizing said circuit when said switch is in said second position, and for de-energizing said circuit when said switch is in said first position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said control element comprises a substantially L-shaped arm, the free end of one leg of which is connected to said switch, the free end of the other leg of which is operatively associated with said circuit.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said control element connects a ground side of said circuit to a frame of said firearm when said switch is in said second position and disconnects the ground side of said circuit from said frame when said switch is in said first position.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said control element is made of electrically conductive material.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said warning circuit produces an audible signal when energized.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said warning circuit produces a vibration of said firearm when energized.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said warning circuit produces a visual signal when energized.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a microswitch responsive to said control element for energizing 

1. A safety warning system for a firearm comprising a safety switch on said firearm linearly movable between a first safety ON position and a second safety OFF position, an electrical warning circuit, and a control element separate and distinct from and connected to said switch and pivotally movable relative to said firearm in response to the linear movement of said switch, for energizing said circuit when said switch is in said second position, and for de-energizing said circuit when said switch is in said first position.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said control element comprises a substantially L-shaped arm, the free end of one leg of which is connected to said switch, the free end of the other leg of which is operatively associAted with said circuit.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said control element connects a ground side of said circuit to a frame of said firearm when said switch is in said second position and disconnects the ground side of said circuit from said frame when said switch is in said first position.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein said control element is made of electrically conductive material.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said warning circuit produces an audible signal when energized.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein said warning circuit produces a vibration of said firearm when energized.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein said warning circuit produces a visual signal when energized.
 8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a microswitch responsive to said control element for energizing said circuit. 